Cloud based emergency wireless link

ABSTRACT

A method of providing an emergency wireless link in a data center comprising a plurality of servers includes receiving, at an input interface of an emergency wireless link system at the data center, an input from a sensor coupled to one of the plurality of servers or to an auxiliary system among a plurality of auxiliary systems, the plurality of auxiliary systems including a power supply system. The method also includes comparing, using a processor of the emergency wireless link system, the input with a plurality of conditions, declaring an emergency, using the processor, based on the input matching one of the plurality of conditions, outputting, using the processor, one or more messages corresponding with the one of the plurality of conditions based on declaring the emergency, and transmitting the one or more messages wirelessly.

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/103,991 filed Dec. 12, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporatedby reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to a data center, and morespecifically, to a cloud-based emergency wireless link at a data center.

A data center generally refers to a facility that houses computersystems and associated communication and storage systems. A data centermay be a collection of networked servers used for storage, processing,and distribution of data. The collection of servers, depending on theirsize and number, requires a minimum amount of space, power supply, andcooling, among other things. Rather than bear the cost for the resourcesand maintenance of a data center, many individuals and enterprises haveelected to employ cloud-based data centers. These cloud-based datacenters provide the services of a local data center for a fee withoutthe infrastructure cost of a local data center. These data centers areaccessible to the users via the internet, for example, and aremaintained by a cloud service provider. The services provided by thecloud-based data center may include data storage, processing, anddistribution, for example. The data may be secure and may require adecryption key or password for access. Other data, though not encryptedor password-protected, may be considered sensitive. Reliability ofaccess (the ability to access the data when desired) may be a key factorin selecting a particular cloud service provider. Thus, maintaining theintegrity of a cloud-based data center, like maintaining the integrityof a local data center, is essential for users. However, unlike a localdata center, which may be in a room in the same office building of anenterprise, a cloud-based data center is remote for the users andaccessible only by the established modes of communication (e.g., via theinternet). A cloud-based data center may also be remote to the cloudservice provider. As a result, the conditions at the data center may notbe readily discernable.

SUMMARY

Embodiments include a system, method, and computer program product fortransmitting a message using an emergency wireless link system. A methodof providing an emergency wireless link in a data center comprising aplurality of servers is also described. The method includes receiving,at an input interface of an emergency wireless link system at the datacenter, an input from a sensor coupled to one of the plurality ofservers or to an auxiliary system among a plurality of auxiliarysystems. The plurality of auxiliary systems includes a power supplysystem. The method also includes comparing, using a processor of theemergency wireless link system, the input with a plurality ofconditions, and declaring an emergency, using the processor, based onthe input matching one of the plurality of conditions. The methodfurther includes outputting, using the processor, one or more messagescorresponding with the one of the plurality of conditions based ondeclaring the emergency, and transmitting the one or more messageswirelessly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter which is regarded as embodiments is particularlypointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion ofthe specification. The forgoing and other features, and advantages ofthe embodiments are apparent from the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a cloud computing node according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 depicts a cloud computing environment according to an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 3 depicts abstraction model layers according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 4 depicts an emergency wireless link system in a data centeraccording to an embodiment; and

FIG. 5 is a process flow of a method of transmitting a message using anemergency wireless link system according to one or more embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A cloud-based emergency wireless link, embodiments of which arediscussed herein, facilitates management and maintenance of cloud-baseddata centers. The embodiments discussed herein apply, as well, to anyremote equipment.

As noted above, a cloud service provider may use a remote managementcenter to manage a cloud data center. As a result of the data centerbeing remote from both users and the management center, the reliabilityand integrity of a remote (cloud-based) data center may be compromisedor feared to be compromised when the data center is not accessible.Typically, wireless communication is avoided within a data center. Thisis because radiated noise at a particular radio frequency may interferewith the equipment in the data center.

Embodiments detailed herein relate to a wireless link that transmitsinformation only after a disaster has been determined to have occurredand an emergency has been declared. At the outset, cloud computing isgenerally described below.

It is understood in advance that although this disclosure includes adetailed description on cloud computing, implementation of the teachingsrecited herein are not limited to a cloud computing environment. Rather,embodiments of the present invention are capable of being implemented inconjunction with any other type of computing environment now known orlater developed.

Cloud computing is a model of service delivery for enabling convenient,on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computingresources (e.g. networks, network bandwidth, servers, processing,memory, storage, applications, virtual machines, and services) that canbe rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort orinteraction with a provider of the service. This cloud model may includeat least five characteristics, at least three service models, and atleast four deployment models.

Characteristics are as follows:

On-demand self-service: a cloud consumer can unilaterally provisioncomputing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, asneeded automatically without requiring human interaction with theservice's provider.

Broad network access: capabilities are available over a network andaccessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneousthin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, laptops, and PDAs).

Resource pooling: the provider's computing resources are pooled to servemultiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, with different physicaland virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according todemand. There is a sense of location independence in that the consumergenerally has no control or knowledge over the exact location of theprovided resources but may be able to specify location at a higher levelof abstraction (e.g., country, state, or datacenter).

Rapid elasticity: capabilities can be rapidly and elasticallyprovisioned, in some cases automatically, to quickly scale out andrapidly released to quickly scale in. To the consumer, the capabilitiesavailable for provisioning often appear to be unlimited and can bepurchased in any quantity at any time.

Measured service: cloud systems automatically control and optimizeresource use by leveraging a metering capability at some level ofabstraction appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage,processing, bandwidth, and active user accounts). Resource usage can bemonitored, controlled, and reported providing transparency for both theprovider and consumer of the utilized service.

Service Models are as follows:

Software as a Service (SaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto use the provider's applications running on a cloud infrastructure.The applications are accessible from various client devices through athin client interface such as a web browser (e.g., web-based e-mail).The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloudinfrastructure including network, servers, operating systems, storage,or even individual application capabilities, with the possible exceptionof limited user-specific application configuration settings.

Platform as a Service (PaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto deploy onto the cloud infrastructure consumer-created or acquiredapplications created using programming languages and tools supported bythe provider. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure including networks, servers, operating systems, orstorage, but has control over the deployed applications and possiblyapplication hosting environment configurations.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): the capability provided to theconsumer is to provision processing, storage, networks, and otherfundamental computing resources where the consumer is able to deploy andrun arbitrary software, which can include operating systems andapplications. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure but has control over operating systems, storage,deployed applications, and possibly limited control of select networkingcomponents (e.g., host firewalls).

Deployment Models are as follows:

Private cloud: the cloud infrastructure is operated solely for anorganization. It may be managed by the organization or a third party andmay exist on-premises or off-premises.

Community cloud: the cloud infrastructure is shared by severalorganizations and supports a specific community that has shared concerns(e.g., mission, security requirements, policy, and complianceconsiderations). It may be managed by the organizations or a third partyand may exist on-premises or off-premises.

Public cloud: the cloud infrastructure is made available to the generalpublic or a large industry group and is owned by an organization sellingcloud services.

Hybrid cloud: the cloud infrastructure is a composition of two or moreclouds (private, community, or public) that remain unique entities butare bound together by standardized or proprietary technology thatenables data and application portability (e.g., cloud bursting forload-balancing between clouds).

A cloud computing environment is service oriented with a focus onstatelessness, low coupling, modularity, and semantic interoperability.At the heart of cloud computing is an infrastructure comprising anetwork of interconnected nodes.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a schematic of an example of a cloud computingnode is shown. Cloud computing node 10 is only one example of a suitablecloud computing node and is not intended to suggest any limitation as tothe scope of use or functionality of embodiments of the inventiondescribed herein. Regardless, cloud computing node 10 is capable ofbeing implemented and/or performing any of the functionality set forthhereinabove.

In cloud computing node 10 there is a computer system/server 12, whichis operational with numerous other general purpose or special purposecomputing system environments or configurations. Examples of well-knowncomputing systems, environments, and/or configurations that may besuitable for use with computer system/server 12 include, but are notlimited to, personal computer systems, server computer systems, thinclients, thick clients, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessorsystems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmableconsumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputer systems, mainframecomputer systems, and distributed cloud computing environments thatinclude any of the above systems or devices, and the like.

Computer system/server 12 may be described in the general context ofcomputer system-executable instructions, such as program modules, beingexecuted by a computer system. Generally, program modules may includeroutines, programs, objects, components, logic, data structures, and soon that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract datatypes. Computer system/server 12 may be practiced in distributed cloudcomputing environments where tasks are performed by remote processingdevices that are linked through a communications network. In adistributed cloud computing environment, program modules may be locatedin both local and remote computer system storage media including memorystorage devices.

As shown in FIG. 1, computer system/server 12 in cloud computing node 10is shown in the form of a general-purpose computing device. Thecomponents of computer system/server 12 may include, but are not limitedto, one or more processors or processing units 16, a system memory 28,and a bus 18 that couples various system components including systemmemory 28 to processor 16.

Bus 18 represents one or more of any of several types of bus structures,including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, anaccelerated graphics port, and a processor or local bus using any of avariety of bus architectures. By way of example, and not limitation,such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus,Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, VideoElectronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and PeripheralComponent Interconnect (PCI) bus.

Computer system/server 12 typically includes a variety of computersystem readable media. Such media may be any available media that isaccessible by computer system/server 12, and it includes both volatileand non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media.

System memory 28 can include computer system readable media in the formof volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) 30 and/or cachememory 32. Computer system/server 12 may further include otherremovable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer system storagemedia. By way of example only, storage system 34 can be provided forreading from and writing to a non-removable, non-volatile magnetic media(not shown and typically called a “hard drive”). Although not shown, amagnetic disk drive for reading from and writing to a removable,non-volatile magnetic disk (e.g., a “floppy disk”), and an optical diskdrive for reading from or writing to a removable, non-volatile opticaldisk such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or other optical media can be provided.In such instances, each can be connected to bus 18 by one or more datamedia interfaces. As will be further depicted and described below,memory 28 may include at least one program product having a set (e.g.,at least one) of program modules that are configured to carry out thefunctions of embodiments of the invention.

Program/utility 40, having a set (at least one) of program modules 42,may be stored in memory 28 by way of example, and not limitation, aswell as an operating system, one or more application programs, otherprogram modules, and program data. Each of the operating system, one ormore application programs, other program modules, and program data orsome combination thereof, may include an implementation of a networkingenvironment. Program modules 42 generally carry out the functions and/ormethodologies of embodiments of the invention as described herein.

Computer system/server 12 may also communicate with one or more externaldevices 14 such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a display 24, etc.;one or more devices that enable a user to interact with computersystem/server 12; and/or any devices (e.g., network card, modem, etc.)that enable computer system/server 12 to communicate with one or moreother computing devices. Such communication can occur via Input/Output(I/O) interfaces 22. Still yet, computer system/server 12 cancommunicate with one or more networks such as a local area network(LAN), a general wide area network (WAN), and/or a public network (e.g.,the Internet) via network adapter 20. As depicted, network adapter 20communicates with the other components of computer system/server 12 viabus 18. It should be understood that although not shown, other hardwareand/or software components could be used in conjunction with computersystem/server 12. Examples, include, but are not limited to: microcode,device drivers, redundant processing units, external disk drive arrays,RAID systems, tape drives, and data archival storage systems, etc.

Referring now to FIG. 2, illustrative cloud computing environment 50 isdepicted. As shown, cloud computing environment 50 comprises one or morecloud computing nodes 10 with which local computing devices used bycloud consumers, such as, for example, personal digital assistant (PDA)or cellular telephone 54A, desktop computer 54B, laptop computer 54C,and/or automobile computer system 54N may communicate. Nodes 10 maycommunicate with one another. They may be grouped (not shown) physicallyor virtually, in one or more networks, such as Private, Community,Public, or Hybrid clouds as described hereinabove, or a combinationthereof. This allows cloud computing environment 50 to offerinfrastructure, platforms and/or software as services for which a cloudconsumer does not need to maintain resources on a local computingdevice. It is understood that the types of computing devices 54A-N shownin FIG. 2 are intended to be illustrative only and that computing nodes10 and cloud computing environment 50 can communicate with any type ofcomputerized device over any type of network and/or network addressableconnection (e.g., using a web browser).

Referring now to FIG. 3, a set of functional abstraction layers providedby cloud computing environment 50 (FIG. 2) is shown. It should beunderstood in advance that the components, layers, and functions shownin FIG. 3 are intended to be illustrative only and embodiments of theinvention are not limited thereto. As depicted, the following layers andcorresponding functions are provided:

Hardware and software layer 60 includes hardware and softwarecomponents. Examples of hardware components include mainframes, in oneexample IBM® zSeries® systems; RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer)architecture based servers, in one example IBM pSeries® systems; IBMxSeries® systems; IBM BladeCenter® systems; storage devices; networksand networking components. Examples of software components includenetwork application server software, in one example IBM WebSphere®application server software; and database software, in one example IBMDB2® database software. (IBM, zSeries, pSeries, xSeries, BladeCenter,WebSphere, and DB2 are trademarks of International Business MachinesCorporation registered in many jurisdictions worldwide).

Virtualization layer 62 provides an abstraction layer from which thefollowing examples of virtual entities may be provided: virtual servers;virtual storage; virtual networks, including virtual private networks;virtual applications and operating systems; and virtual clients.

In one example, management layer 64 may provide the functions describedbelow. Resource provisioning provides dynamic procurement of computingresources and other resources that are utilized to perform tasks withinthe cloud computing environment. Metering and Pricing provide costtracking as resources are utilized within the cloud computingenvironment, and billing or invoicing for consumption of theseresources. In one example, these resources may comprise applicationsoftware licenses. Security provides identity verification for cloudconsumers and tasks, as well as protection for data and other resources.User portal provides access to the cloud computing environment forconsumers and system administrators. Service level management providescloud computing resource allocation and management such that requiredservice levels are met. Service Level Agreement (SLA) planning andfulfillment provide pre-arrangement for, and procurement of, cloudcomputing resources for which a future requirement is anticipated inaccordance with an SLA.

Workloads layer 66 provides examples of functionality for which thecloud computing environment may be utilized. Examples of workloads andfunctions which may be provided from this layer include: mapping andnavigation; software development and lifecycle management; virtualclassroom education delivery; data analytics processing; and transactionprocessing.

FIG. 4 depicts an emergency wireless link system 410 in a data center400 according to an embodiment. According to various embodiments, thedata center 400 is a remote or cloud-based data center. As describedabove, one or more cloud computing nodes 10 may be physically groupedtogether in the data center 400. Each node 10 may include one or moreservers 12. The exemplary remote or cloud-based data center 400 shown inFIG. 4 includes one or more nodes 10 with one or more servers 12. One ormore of the servers 12 is coupled to a monitoring device or sensor 420.Sensors 420 may also be coupled to one or more auxiliary systems 430. Anexemplary auxiliary system 430 may be a fire suppressant system. Anotherexemplary auxiliary system 430 may be the power supply system for thedata center 400. Yet another auxiliary system 430 may be the temperaturecontrol system for the data center 400. Each sensor 420 may be coupledto a server 12 or auxiliary system 430 wirelessly or through one or morewires. The sensors 420 (and the emergency wireless link system 410) maybe battery powered or include auxiliary power sources such as batteries.An input interface 411 of the emergency wireless link system 410receives one or more inputs 425 from one or more sensors 420. A givensensor 420 may include a processor to interpret information from aserver 12 or auxiliary system 430. In this case, the input 425 providedby the sensor 420 may be status information rather than raw information.That is, the input 425 may indicate a time and duration during which thefire suppressant system (auxiliary system 430) was activated, forexample. As another example, the input 425 may indicate that thetemperature in the data center 400 is below a minimum thresholdtemperature or above a maximum threshold temperature. In alternateembodiments, a given sensor 420 may pass on some or all of theinformation it receives from a server 12 or auxiliary system 430. Inthis case, the input 425 must be interpreted by the emergency wirelesslink system 410.

Specifically, a processor 413 of the emergency wireless link system 410receives the input 425 received through the input interface 411 and,based on the type of input 425, may first interpret the information inthe input 425 to determine a status of the server 12 or auxiliary system430 corresponding with the input 425. The processor 413 accesses a setof rules or conditions 416 from a storage device 415. Both the processor413 and storage device 415 may be used for other functions of the datacenter 400 in addition to the emergency wireless link function detailedherein. The processor 413 determines if one or more of the inputs 425matches a condition 416. When the processor 413 determines that there isa match between one or more inputs 425 and a condition 416 in thestorage device 415, the processor 413 sends a message 418 to thetransmitter 417 for transmission. A match between an input 425 and acondition 416 indicates that a disaster has occurred that effects thedata center 400, and an emergency is declared or determined by theprocessor 413.

The message 418 provided by the processor 413 for transmission by thetransmitter 417 of the emergency wireless link system 410 correspondswith the condition 416 with which one or more inputs 425 matched. Forexample, if the power system (auxiliary system 430) indicates a failurethrough an input 425, the message 418 resulting from a match of thatinput 425 with one of the conditions 416 may be different than if thefire suppressant system (auxiliary system 430) indicates that it hasbeen activated to suppress a fire or if a server 12 indicates that ithas failed. In alternate embodiments, a match between an input 425 andany condition 416 may result, additionally or alternatively, in the sametransmission (same message 418) being sent by the transmitter 417. Thatis, a general message 418 may correspond, additionally or alternatively,with more than one condition 416. The transmission may be within a rangeof frequencies that is monitored by a monitoring center 450. Thetransmission may be a shortwave or any radio frequency transmission. Thetransmission may alternately or additionally be WiFi or cellular. Thetransmitter 417 may first send a poll signal to determine whichtransmission media are congested and which are available. For example,the transmitter 417 may test for a dial tone (telephone network) or aping (WiFi). The wireless transmission by the transmitter 417 may bedone in short bursts using a packet structure. This may be especiallyhelpful because cellular and other networks may become congestedfollowing a disaster, and shorter bursts may be easier to transmit overthe congested networks. The message 418 transmitted by the emergencywireless link system 410 may provide information regarding the disasteror the servers 12 and auxiliary systems 430 currently not operating, forexample. The number and types of information transmitted based on themessages 418 are not limited in any way. The transmission may requiresecurity credentials for access. The security credentials may include apassword or encryption key. That is, the processor 413 may output one ormore messages 418 as password-protected or encrypted messages fortransmission by the transmitter 417.

According to embodiment, the transmitter 417 may additionally transmitemergency wireless link system 410 status to the monitoring center 450.In this case, the power sources powering the sensors 420 and emergencywireless link system 410 are monitored for critical charge levels thatare stored in the storage device 415. The monitored levels may be aroutine message 418 forwarded to the transmitter 417 for transmission tothe monitoring center 450. The information in the routine message 418regarding charge levels may trigger replacement of a battery at the datacenter 400, for example.

The monitoring center 450 may identify a transmission from the emergencywireless link system 410 by receiving all transmissions within apredefined frequency range and determining if any of the transmissionsrequire the credentials known to be required for a transmission from theemergency wireless link system 410. The monitoring center 450 may be apassive receiving site which stores any received packets from theemergency wireless link system 410 for retrieval by a user who accessesthe monitoring center 450. The user may in turn be required to providesecurity credentials to the monitoring center 450 to have the messages418 forwarded. In alternate embodiments, the monitoring center 450 maybe active and may transmit an alert to one or more users or sites basedon receiving a message 418 from the emergency wireless link system 410.

FIG. 5 is a process flow of a method of transmitting a message 418 usingan emergency wireless link system 410 according to one or moreembodiments. At block 510, receiving input 425 from a sensor 420includes an input interface 411 of the emergency wireless link system410 receiving inputs 425 from one or more sensors 420 coupled to one ormore servers 12 and one or more auxiliary systems 430. The input 425 maybe status information based on a pre-processing of the informationreceived at the sensor 420 or may be raw data. Each of the sensors 420may communicate with both the corresponding monitored system (server 12or auxiliary system 430) and the emergency wireless link system 410through one or more wires or wirelessly. At block 520, comparing theinput 425 with conditions 416 includes a processor 413 of the emergencywireless link system 410 comparing either the input 425, as received, ora processed input 425 if raw data is received with conditions 416 storedin a storage device 415. As noted above, some exemplary conditions 416may be a power outage, a temperature in the data center 400 fallingbelow a minimum threshold temperature or exceeding a maximum thresholdtemperature, or the fire suppressant system being activated. Thetransmitting of the message 418 at block 530 occurs when the processor413 determines that an input 425 matches a condition 416. A matchindicates that a disaster (some form of outage) has occurred at the datacenter 400 and the processor 413 declares an emergency, thereby startingtransmission of the one or more messages 418 by the transmitter 417. Theone or more messages 418 may be transmitted in any of the exemplary waysdiscussed above and may be transmitted in association with securitycredentials. At block 540, receiving the message 418 from the emergencywireless link system 410 may include providing a password or decryptionkey to access the message 418 and forwarding an alert based on themessage 418.

Technical effects and benefits include the wireless transmission ofmessages 418 indicating status and other information following adisaster at a remote or cloud-based data center 400.

As will be appreciated by one of average skill in the art, aspects ofembodiments may be embodied as a system, method or computer programproduct. Accordingly, aspects of embodiments may take the form of anentirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (includingfirmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodimentcombining software and hardware aspects that may all generally bereferred to herein as, for example, a “circuit,” “module” or “system.”Furthermore, aspects of embodiments may take the form of a computerprogram product embodied in one or more computer readable storagedevice(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

One or more of the capabilities of embodiments can be implemented insoftware, firmware, hardware, or some combination thereof. Further, oneor more of the capabilities can be emulated.

An embodiment may be a computer program product for enabling processorcircuits to perform elements of the invention, the computer programproduct comprising a computer readable storage medium readable by aprocessing circuit and storing instructions for execution by theprocessing circuit for performing a method.

The computer readable storage medium (or media), being a tangible,non-transitory, storage medium having instructions recorded thereon forcausing a processor circuit to perform a method. The “computer readablestorage medium” being non-transitory at least because once theinstructions are recorded on the medium, the recorded instructions canbe subsequently read one or more times by the processor circuit at timesthat are independent of the time of recording. The “computer readablestorage media” being non-transitory including devices that retainrecorded information only while powered (volatile devices) and devicesthat retain recorded information independently of being powered(non-volatile devices). An example, non-exhaustive list of“non-transitory storage media” includes, but is not limited to, forexample: a semi-conductor storage device comprising, for example, amemory array such as a RAM or a memory circuit such as latch havinginstructions recorded thereon; a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon; an optically readable device such as a CD or DVDhaving instructions recorded thereon; and a magnetic encoded device suchas a magnetic tape or a magnetic disk having instructions recordedthereon.

A non-exhaustive list of examples of computer readable storage mediuminclude the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM). Program code can be distributedto respective computing/processing devices from an external computer orexternal storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, alocal area network, wide area network and/or wireless network. Thenetwork may comprise copper transmission cables, optical transmissionfibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gatewaycomputers and/or edge servers. A network adapter card or networkinterface card in each computing/processing device receives a programfrom the network and forwards the program for storage in acomputer-readable storage device within the respectivecomputing/processing device.

Computer program instructions for carrying out operations for aspects ofembodiments may be for example assembler code, machine code, microcodeor either source or object code written in any combination of one ormore programming languages, including an object oriented programminglanguage such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventionalprocedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming languageor similar programming languages. The program code may execute entirelyon the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remotecomputer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computerthrough any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an externalcomputer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet ServiceProvider).

Aspects of embodiments are described below with reference to flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) andcomputer program products according to embodiments of the invention. Itwill be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/orblock diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computerprogram instructions.

These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of ageneral purpose computer, special purpose computer, or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such thatthe instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer orother programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer program instructions may also bestored in a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices tofunction in a particular.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or blockdiagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, whichcomprises one or more executable instructions for implementing thespecified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in somealternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occurout of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown insuccession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or theblocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending uponthe functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware andcomputer instructions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of providing an emergency wireless linkin a data center comprising a plurality of servers, the methodcomprising: receiving, at an input interface of an emergency wirelesslink system at the data center, an input from a sensor coupled to theplurality of servers or to a plurality of auxiliary systems, theplurality of auxiliary systems including a power supply system;comparing, using a processor of the emergency wireless link system, theinput with a plurality of conditions, the plurality of conditionscompared with the input by the processor including a power outage and afire suppression system being activated; declaring an emergency, usingthe processor, based on the input matching one of the plurality ofconditions; outputting, using the processor, one or more messagescorresponding with the one of the plurality of conditions based ondeclaring the emergency; and transmitting the one or more messageswirelessly.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the receivingthe input from the sensor includes receiving a status of one of theplurality of servers or one of the auxiliary systems based on processingby the sensor.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the receivingthe input from the sensor includes receiving data output by one of theplurality of servers or one of the auxiliary systems and passed on bythe sensor.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transmittingthe one or more messages includes using one or more of a cellular, WiFi,or shortwave frequency channel.
 5. The method according to claim 1,wherein the transmitting the one or more messages includes transmittingpassword-protected or encrypted transmissions.
 6. The method accordingto claim 1, wherein the receiving the input from the sensor includesreceiving the input from the sensor coupled to a temperature controlsystem or a fire suppression system.
 7. The method according to claim 6,wherein the comparing the input to the plurality of conditions includescomparing the input to a temperature below a minimum thresholdtemperature or above a maximum threshold temperature.
 8. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the outputting the one or more messagesincludes outputting a critical charge level of the sensor.